Preparing to fly again – guide for GA pilots

With the recent relaxation of lockdown restrictions now allowing recreational flying, albeit solo or with members of your own household, many of you may be thinking about getting into the air again.

Of course all pilots regardless of experience will inevitably incur some level of skills fade over time. Even if you flew in the days immediately prior to lockdown you would have been out of the cockpit for around nine weeks. Though for most it will be even longer than that and some of you may have not flown since the last flying season.

Are you fit and well? Don’t even think about going flying if you have Covid-19 symptoms

Is your licence and medical current?

Remember before carrying passengers currency requirements still apply

If you’re an owner make sure your aircraft maintenance and documents are up-to-date

Make your self aware of any procedural changes at the airport (eg changes in air traffic provision)

Do an extra thorough Check A before flight

Make your first flight in a local area in good weather

Do a ‘hangar flight’ – give yourself a few minutes in the cockpit to re-familiarise yourself with it

Take extra time on your first flight and use checklists

The CAA advise that low-hour pilots, those with low hours on a new type or new flying qualification or those that have not flown for a while should consider getting a check flight with an instructor once restrictions are lifted further and dual-training is possible. At Advance we think this is really important so have taken the decision not to go ahead with self-fly-hire until such a time.